Bar accessory



C. F. SMITH BAR ACCESSORY Feb. 21, 1961 2 sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1958 Claude E Smith 1N VEN TOR 40,62. BY Anna WW 5M Feb. 21, 1961 c. F. SMiTH 2,972,417

BAR ACCESSORY Filed April 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Claude F. Smith INVENTOR.

from the clamps themselves.

BAR ACCESSORY Claude F. Smith, 126 S. Adams St., Green Bay, Wis.

Filed Apr. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 730,435

3 Ciaims. (Cl. 211-71) This invention relates generally to bar or counter accessories, and more particularly to a device wherein a large supply of a desired article or articles may be kept on hand, at the point of utility, in an easy,'convenient, and eye appealing manner.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a small article dispenser which is particularly designed for a complete customer service at a desired location so that much of the walking of countermen and bartenders is eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which is particularly adapted for use as a combination dispenser and holder for napkins, for drink coasters, mixing, or swizzle sticks as they are commonly called, straws, and additional storage means which may be used to contain a carton of common book matches of regulation size, such as would be useful in taverns, cocktail lounges, restaurants, etc.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein clamps are supplied thereon for ease in attaching the device to various locations on a bar or counter.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein the use of the clamps is not necessary in the use of the device, since the clamps need not be used but the device may readily set upon any supporting surface such as a counter or the like and be firmly supported on its base without the need for any type of clamping whatsoever.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed. 1

This invention contemplates the use of a frame member having a clamp disposed at both ends thereof. A napkin tray is aflixed to the frame member and extends outwardly therefrom. A shallow pan for accommodating conventional match books is disposed above the tray by rods which are disposed between the tray and the pan, respectively. On both sides of the tray and adjacent the clamps are formed circular wire loops for enclosing the top portion of glass tumbler-type containers, with portions of the wire projecting downwardly and at right angles thereto, whereby the bottom of the tumbler type containers may rest thereupon and be prevented from lateral movement by the circular loops. Various towel racks may be disposed in depending relation either from the forward portion of the tray or An adaptor is also provided for allowing the napkin tray to be converted to a tray for containing coasters.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, where- 2,972,417 Patented Feb. 2i, res

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention illustrating an open wire framework type of construction for the tray, and a towel rack suspended therefrom, the container supports also being made of open wire framework;

- Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substan Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the device illustrated in Figure 5 illustrating further details of construction; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the adapter which allows the tray to be used as a coaster holder and dispenser.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates one embodiment of my invention. This embodiment is constructed of a transverse frame member 12 which has clamps 14 fastened on both ends thereof with which to support the device onto a shelf, counter or bar. Each clamp is constructed of a vertical member 16, the upper end of which is formed integral with the transverse frame member 12, an upper leg 18, at right angles thereto, and a lower leg 20, which is spaced from and parallel to the upper leg. The free end of upper leg 18 may have a depending lip 22 thereon for further grasping of a supporting surface. The lower leg 20 threadedly accommodates a screw type clamp element 24, which is used to hold a supporting surface between itself and the undersurface of upper leg 13. It may thus be seen that the clamps 14 may be used to hold the device onto a supporting member such as that designated by the numeral 26.

The tray 28 is constructed of two longitudinally extending spaced rod members 30, which are bent at right angles thereto at their rearward portions to define central vertical members 32, and are connected together at their upper portions by a transverse portion 34. A transverse rod 36 is connected across the forward portions of the spaced longitudinal rods, and is bent at right angles thereto to define vertical rods 33. They are again bent at right angles outwardly to define members 40, and

' then are bent rearwardly to define upper rail members which 42. The rearward portion of each longitudinal upper rail 42 is bent forwardly at an acute angle to form an intermediate portion of a Z 44 as seen in Figure 2. The upper portion of member 44 is then bent rearwardly to define member 46, which is horizontally disposed and extends rearwardly to member 34 to which it is welded or fastened by some other means. Transverse support members 48 are connected to the longitudinal members 30 and are spaced from each other, and have upstanding vertical members 50 at the outer ends thereof which are connected to the horizontal upper rails 42. In the rearward portion of tray 28, another, and even longer, transverse member 52 is provided which has upstanding and slightly angled members 54 connected to the outer ends thereof. Closed loops 56 for accommodating the upper end of tumbler type containers, have one end thereoffastened to the upper end of vertical members 54, and

have a rearward portion thereof affixed to the upper part of clamp member 16. The two circular members 56" gamer? are connected by an interconnecting member 58 which is afiixed atop the lateral frame member 12.

Mounted atop the horizontal members 34 and 46 is a shallowpan 66. This pan is constructed of a flat bottom 62, front and rear walls 64 and 66, respectively, and side walls 68 all of which are upstanding from the peripheral edge of flat bottom 62. It is to be noted that the pan is to be fastened to horizontal members 46 and 34 so that it may not he accidentally removed therefrom. If desired, an advertising placard 69 may be supported upon the bar or counter 26 on its bottom thereof and bent as at 76 on its top end thereof and hook about rear wall 66, so that the device will be pleasing to the eye from the customers side of the counter.

A towel rack 70 is provided on the forward end of the tray, and is constructed of a transverse member 72 which overlies the forward portions of longitudinal members 36, and has two depending vertical members 74 which are formed into towel accommodating loops 76 at the lower ends thereof. An interconnected bar 78 is provided with loops 80 at the ends thereof which encircle the lower portions of vertical members 74 and the beginning of the rings 76, so as to more firmly support them with respect to each other, and to also provide an additional towel rack for the device.

In use, a supply of napkins or the like as designated at 82 in Figure 2, may be disposed within the tray 28,

' designated by the numeral 84. The device illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and designated as 193, is also constructed of a lateral frame member 12 having vertical members 16 connected at the ends thereof which form a part of the clamping means 112. These means are also constructed byhaving an upper leg 13 with a lip 22 and an access port is provided between the vertical members 38 and horizontal member 36, so that the napkins may be easily removed therefrom. Conventional size match book covers may be placed in a carton within the pan 60 for the convenience of the countermen or bartender. Furthermore, tumbler type receptacles or containers may be placed within the circular rings 56 and rest upon the outer ends of transverse rod 52, and swizzle sticks and the like may be stored therein for further conyenience.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, it will be seen that this embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 8 h The support frame 12, and clamping members 14 are identical to the construction of Figure l, as is the construction of the tumbler receptacle comprising the rings 56, the vertical member 54 depending therefrom, and connecting member 52, as well as the upper connecting member 58. The shallow pan 60 is also similar to the one illustrated in Figure l and is constructed having a flat bottom 62, sides 68, and a front and rear wall 6 and 66, respectively. The pan is supported by vertical members 66 which have angulated portions bent to extend forwardly and further support the pan, and angular brace members 88 connected between the bottom surface of the pan and vertical members 86, to give added support thereto. The tray 90 is constructed of a flat bottom 92 formed of a sheet material, and has a rear wall 94. Side walls 96 are connected at the side edges thereof and may have V-shaped notches at their intermediate portion. Notches 98 are formed in the rearward upper portions of side walls 96, so that a tray 96 may be supported by the transverse rod 52, and further held in place by the notches 98 into 6 which the bar 12 fits, with the upper portion of the rearward wall 94 underlying the frame 12, thus serving to hold the tray 90 in place. Inwardly facing flanges 100 are connected to the forward portions of bottom 92 and side wall 96, so that napkins placed therein will be held in place and yet may be removed because of the opening formed between the flanges 100. A towel rack is formed by having short rod members 101 inserted into the sides of tray 96, and having depending members 102 afiixed thereto which are bent to form circular towel accommodating loops 104 which are then connected together by an intermediate member 106. Towels may be hung on member 166 as well as in the loops 104. The use of the rest of the device is similar to that mentioned on the end thereof. Abottom leg is also formed, and a locking screw member or clamping element 24 is threadedly disposed therein. The only difference between this clamp means and the clamp means designated by 14 in Figures 1 through 3, is that a recessed portion 122 is provided in the lower leg 126 for the reception of a towel ring 124. Two vertical members 126 are disposed on both sides of the device and fasten ed to the forward surface of frame 12, and extend upwardly and at the upper end thereof are bent into horizontally forwardly extending members 128 which are then bent rearwardly to form a triangle with member 130 being the hypotenuse. The pan 66 previously men tioned and described is affixed to the upper end thereof and on the horizontal members 128 where they may be fastened such as by welding or the like. The lower ends of vertical members 126 extend downwardly below the clamp means and are bent forwardly as at 132 and in a horizontal plane. An interconnecting member 134 is disposed between the legs 132 and the forward por-- tion thereof. A tray 90 identical to the tray illustrated and described in Figure 4 is also used in this embodiment of the device and the notches 98 are also used to fasten the device detachably to the frame member 12, while the bottom 92 of the tray may rest upon the inter connecting transverse member 134.

It is to be noted that tumbler type of containers 136 are fastened to the upper surface of upper legs 18, so that the swizzle sticks may be inserted therein.

In Figure 7 may be seen the adapter 110 which is to be inserted into the tray 90 to adapt it for holding coasters which are conventional articles in bars, taverns and the like. These adapters are constructed of a truncated V-shaped member attached back-to-back to a U-shaped member, the members being designated as 138 and 140, respectively. The V-shaped member 138 is constructed of diverging legs 142 extending outwardly from the edges of a bight portion 144, which is in turn connected to a bight portion 146 of the U-shaped memher 140. The U-shaped member has forwardly extending legs 148 with outwardly projecting flanges 150 on the free ends thereof. In Figure 5 may be seen the tray 90 containing the adapter 110, wherein the outer edges of the legs of the V-shaped member 142 contact the rearward corners of the tray 90, and the outer edges of the flanges 150 contact the corners of the forward portion of the tray 90, with the outer faces of flanges 156 lying in face to face contact with flanges 100 of the tray 90. It may thus be seen that the adapter will fit therein in a tight fit so that sliding movement thereof will be prevented.

It may now be seen that there has been shown and described a new and improved type of utility tray for bars and counters and the like which is extremely practical and simple to make as well as being very eflicient in use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructio'n and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a utility attachment for a bar, the combination of a strap-shaped horizontal support member, a pair of clamps provided at the ends of said support member for attaching the same to a bar, a tray having a back portion secured centrally to the support member and projecting forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a pair of transversely spaced vertical rods secured to and extending upwardly from said support member at the opposite sides of said tray, forwardly projecting arm portions provided at the upper ends of said rods, a pan mounted on said arm portions in upwardly spaced relation from said tray, forwardly projecting arm portions provided at the lower ends of said rods and supportably underlying the tray, a horizontal bar secured in downwardly spaced relation to the front of said tray, and a pair of eyes provided at the ends of said bar.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a pair of circular loops secured to said support member at the opposite sides of said tray and disposed horizontally substantially at the level of the top of the tray, and a U- shaped rod depending from and secured at its ends to said loops, the bight portion of said U-shaped rod underlying the loops in downwardly spaced relation for retention of containers placed in said loops.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said tray is of a sheet metal construction and includes a bottom, a pair of side walls, a back wall secured to said support member, and a pair of transversely spaced front wall portions providing therebetween an access opening to the front of the tray, and a sheet metal divider removably positioned in said tray and separating the same into a plurality of compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 582,679 Paxton May 18, 1897 916,417 Burton Mar. 30, 1909 1,048,192 McMillan Dec. 24, 1912 1,053,103 Martus Feb. 11, 1913 1,108,692 Burd Aug. 25, 1914 1,343,363 Hall June 15, 1920 1,386,878 Lamp Aug. 9, 1921 2,276,121 Thorn Mar. 10, 1942 2,562,443 Barbour et a1. July 31, 1951 2,601,571 Sverkerson June 24, 1952 2,603,438 Adams July 15, 1952 2,606,667 Hornick Aug. 12, 1952 2,702,649 Nelson Feb. 22, 1955 2,808,943 Rubenstein Oct. 8, 1957 2,825,341 Wassell Mar. 4, 1958 2,893,677 Dannenburg July 7, 1959 2,901,120 Abrahamson Aug. 25, 1959 

